Freshman Rider
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Putting miles on those Diablos
Posts: 73 
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Joined: Jul 30, 2015 14:52:52 GMT -5
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Post by thecollector on Sept 19, 2016 19:07:45 GMT -5
After going through some recent mechanical agony with my Bashan 150 (not limited to just a brake fluid leak) I looked around the area for something I might like better. Since I was a complete novice when I got the 150 I feel I have learned a lot from the three-year experience and felt it was time to move on. Some of the ribbing I was getting from my scooting buddies needed to come to an end, too.
I was fortunate enough to learn that the "very close by" motorcycle shop was selling their old shop bike when they decided to get a car to replace it. I am happy to say they took the Chinese junk off my hands and gave me a good deal on a 2009 Kymco Xciting 250Ri. It needs a couple minor things but I am back on the road with a bigger and better scoot.
I'll post some pictures, and change my avatar after I clean it up a bit. The only change so far is I had them swap out the stock plastic grips for some rubber ones.
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Post by SylvreKat on Sept 20, 2016 7:30:10 GMT -5
Wow, that is quite the trade!  Congrats on scoring a fine quality bike! >'Kat |
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Post by wheelbender6 on Sept 20, 2016 7:30:46 GMT -5
Cool. The Kymco should be a great scoot. You and Leo are now Kymco bros.
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Post by spandi on Sept 20, 2016 10:27:45 GMT -5
I think you'll find the 250 will open up a host of options you didn't have with the smaller machine. Congratulations!
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Freshman Rider
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Putting miles on those Diablos
Posts: 73
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Joined: Jul 30, 2015 14:52:52 GMT -5
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Post by thecollector on Sept 20, 2016 17:55:03 GMT -5
Thanks for the kind replies. Here it is on day two after some new gear oil, new motor oil, Prima magnetic plugs, new spark plug, a wipe down and a shot of Son of a Gun for that Richard Petty finishing touch.  |
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Post by SylvreKat on Sept 20, 2016 19:39:24 GMT -5
Oh, he/she is pretty!
>'Kat
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 22, 2016 20:53:13 GMT -5
SWEEEEET! Another Kymco 250 in the pack!  I believe the "Exciting" is mechanically about the same bike as my Grandvista; just longer, and a lot better-looking. Yup. If you like it as well as I like mine, you'll be one happy rider! They are nearly "bulletproof" mile after mile! I almost bought a Kymco Exciting but my 70-year-old arthritis made it hard to climb over even the "semi-hump" floor, and I opted for the more old-geezerish Grandvista for its flat floor. However... The Exciting is certainly a much sharper ride! And that Kymco blue is a knockout! Danged-near old-school George Barris candy blue.
One bit of advice I can give you from personal experience is this... Do check the tires to see what their speed-rating is. Very often, Kymco 250's are found wearing "J-rated" (62-mph) tires. If so, its WELL worth the bucks to upgrade to "P-rated" (92-mph) tires. I've been happy with the Michelin Power Pure. My obsession with whitewalls put a Shinko on the front, which did not hold up. But in fairness, it was an OLD one before I bought it. It did ride great while it lasted. Your new Kymco should top 70-mph, and some even hit 80 or better (mine will do an honest 82 on the flat, but does have a one-tooth up-gear final drive) and the improved ride and handling the P-rated tires offer even extends to low-speed riding.
Man, are YOU gonna have fun on THAT new Kymco or WHAT? I'm already grinnin' for ya...  Take it from me: going from a Chinese 150 (no matter how much you like it, and I really DID like mine) to a Taiwanese 250 is like going from a Yugo to a BMW... You will LOVE the heavy-duty Kymco ride. Solid as a big Harley. Ride safe, and do make sure your tires are up to the capabilities of your new ride! 250's are "in the middle" between 50-mph 150's, and 100-mph bigger road-scoots. They often opt for lesser tires than they deserve. Leo in Texas
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Post by SylvreKat on Sept 23, 2016 8:32:13 GMT -5
(I was wondering when Leo would find out about this  ) So collector, how much driving have you gotten in? Or are you still out there, and can't post yet 'til a rainy day? >'Kat |
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Freshman Rider
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Putting miles on those Diablos
Posts: 73
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Joined: Jul 30, 2015 14:52:52 GMT -5
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Post by thecollector on Sept 23, 2016 14:39:14 GMT -5
It rained early this morning. When it stopped, I went and got my new license plates, then pushed it around the Grand Valley on the rain-washed roads. That was about a 50-mile round trip and it was awesome.
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Freshman Rider
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Putting miles on those Diablos
Posts: 73
Likes: 16
Joined: Jul 30, 2015 14:52:52 GMT -5
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Post by thecollector on Sept 23, 2016 14:53:42 GMT -5
Thanks, Leo. When I got started on the 150 I became familiar with speed ratings on tires and upgraded to Pirelli SL 26's. More than enough rubber for that bike. The Xciting has a Shinko up front (120/70 15inch) and an Avon Viper Stryke on the rear (150/70 14inch). Both appear to be in good shape and are S rated. I think I am set for awhile. It has a long wheelbase like my buddies' Burgman 400's and Majesty's but is about 150 lbs lighter. The one thing I knew was off was the speedometer, which kinda waves at me occasionally. I am getting used to guestimating my speed by the tach, and riding with the flow of traffic. Aw, who am I kidding? I blow away anything on four wheels from a stop. I plan on getting a mount for my phone and using that as my speedometer until I get that fixed. No one asked, but if you are wondering after the shop graciously took my Chinese Junk as trade-in I paid $600 for the Xciting 250Ri. |
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 23, 2016 22:19:48 GMT -5
Thanks, Leo. When I got started on the 150 I became familiar with speed ratings on tires and upgraded to Pirelli SL 26's. More than enough rubber for that bike. The Xciting has a Shinko up front (120/70 15inch) and an Avon Viper Stryke on the rear (150/70 14inch). Both appear to be in good shape and are S rated. I think I am set for awhile. It has a long wheelbase like my buddies' Burgman 400's and Majesty's but is about 150 lbs lighter. The one thing I knew was off was the speedometer, which kinda waves at me occasionally. I am getting used to guestimating my speed by the tach, and riding with the flow of traffic. Aw, who am I kidding? I blow away anything on four wheels from a stop. I plan on getting a mount for my phone and using that as my speedometer until I get that fixed. No one asked, but if you are wondering after the shop graciously took my Chinese Junk as trade-in I paid $600 for the Xciting 250Ri. Your tires should be fine. My "problematical" Shinko turned out to be VERY old when bought "new". It handled great, and, I chanced a new identical one, but checked to see it was made THIS year... LOL! I doubt you'll be "Jonsing" for wide whitewalls on your sport scoot so you're free to choose any tire you like... Now, maybe a light-up goose on your scoot's nose might be cool... EEEWWWW! Hoo-HAA... Probably NOT so much...
 Tires make such a difference. The speedos on most of these are a tad "optimistic". Mine reads 3-4-mph fast across the board. I just subtract 4-mph to get a true reading. It doesn't matter much since most traffic on both local surface streets and freeways runs from 15 to 30-mph over the posted limit. I just try to keep up! Anything up to 70 is no problem, but on freeways, sometimes you absolutely MUST run 80-mph, to  -mph to avoid becoming road-kill. That's big-bike territory, and that's when I go back to the surface-streets. "Minnie Mouse" is a terrific scoot, a great 65-mph cruiser, but, a crotch-rocket she ain't...I knew the "Exciting" had a longer wheelbase, but I had not noticed the 15 and 14" wheels. That combination should make for excellent riding at any speed she'll run! I'm thinking the CVT and final gear setup is likely identical to the Grandvista. If so, that larger rear wheel should give a little higher top-speed and that would be great!
Again, CONGRATULATIONS on getting a GREAT scoot at a GREAT price.You'll have many, MANY happy mile on that one!!! Ride safe, Leo PS: As a "benchmark" for your reference, my Grandvista purchased new in '07 was used by its original owner for touring. He said she's been from New York to Los Angeles and Canada to Mexico... All riding done near WOT riding 2-up with his missus, and loaded down with luggage. She had 15K miles on the clock with the only repairs done by the dealer before I bought it. They included battery, belt, muffler and brake pads. That's it! And all that good riding on itty-bitty 12" wheels... I've put another 2,500 miles on the mouse, and there is absolutely no oil-consumption, no coolant used, no problems. All electrics, hoses, clutch, variator, CDI, coil, etc. are original and in fine shape. All rubber parts still supple, even the SEAT UPHOLSTERY looks like new, and it SURELY took a beating for 9 years!
That seems the norm with these Kymcos. They last 4-ever...I'm an old die-hard Harley guy, but I'm now also a MAJOR fan of Kymco scoots!
PPS: I just looked closely at your picture. It looks like the badge says "250I". Is it FUEL-INJECTED? If so, that is a major perk. If not, they run great with a carb... |
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Post by spandi on Sept 24, 2016 9:35:19 GMT -5
Nah... I think the color is more like Big Daddy Roth LOL! (Ratfink blue?)
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Post by oldchopperguy on Sept 24, 2016 12:15:16 GMT -5
Nah... I think the color is more like Big Daddy Roth LOL! (Ratfink blue?) Could very well be! Back in 1960, I was already doing art for anybody willing to pay for it (and they didn't pay much, either...) so I got elected to paint Ratfinks on all the guys' notebooks, jackets, cars, etc. I got pretty good at it and earned the nickname "Big Daddy" which I still have over fifty years later. I suppose riding an animal outlaw chopper, and weighing 375 pounds may have added to the name just a little...
My high-school pals who are still alive, still call me "Big Daddy". I'm only "The Old Chopper Guy" on the scooter sites...
Ed Roth was one of my early-on weird-art heroes. I once met him and Norm Grabowski back in the day, at a hot-rod show. Norm is the "father" of the Model-T pickup roadster. And, of course, the ever-present star in every hot-rod teenage exploitation movie made in the sixties! It's said that drag-racer/fellow teenage TV star, "TV" Tommy Ivo actually sneaked into Norm's garage and took clandestine spy-pix of the yet-to-be Kookie car with his Brownie and fabricated one for himself. Tommy surely DID have one almost identical to Norm's in short order.
When the supply of Model-A's got short, and the Deuces totally dried up, Norm built the original Model-T pickup roadster for Ed "Kookie" Burns in the TV detective show "77 Sunset Strip". I could pass on the show, but I watched EVERY second of it hoping to just catch a glimpse of that incredible Caddy-powered T-roadster! (or Connie Stevens in a mini-skirt"...) LOL! Remember, NOBODY had EVER seen a car like THAT before, and, it was WILD! Many of us called it "a chopper on 4-wheels".The rest is history... The Pickup Roadster is as iconic as the Deuce Coupe. Way to go Norm!Every so often, I'm still asked to do a Ratfink... Cheesh! My memory is so slow nowadays, I have to look at one of Roth's originals for reference... Yup... Duh... OK, enough of this old geezer's rambling and lessons on the history of T-roadsters, Ratfinks, Ed, Norm, Tommy and the rest... Just a lot of fun remembering! Hope ALL you fellow riders and riderettes survive long enough to have swell memories like mine fifty years from now... When I head for that big Harley bone yard in the sky, SOMEBODY is gonna have to be "the New Chopper Guy"... or gal, and tell yarns to the electric/nuclear-bike newbies of back in the day, when we rode stuff powered by gasoline engines...
Ride safe, and make good memories!Leo "Big Daddy" in Texas |
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Post by SylvreKat on Sept 24, 2016 15:48:17 GMT -5
Thanks, Leo. ... Aw, who am I kidding? I blow away anything on four wheels from a stop. No one asked, but if you are wondering after the shop graciously took my Chinese Junk as trade-in I paid $600 for the Xciting 250Ri. You bad boy you. Get you together with Leo and you'll make a scootie-gang! $600 sounds like a great price! How many miles did it come with, before you started road hogging on'n'on? >'Kat |
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Post by floridagull on Sept 25, 2016 15:21:41 GMT -5
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-mph to avoid becoming road-kill. That's big-bike territory, and that's when I go back to the surface-streets. "Minnie Mouse" is a terrific scoot, a great 65-mph cruiser, but, a crotch-rocket she ain't...
